Getting a Guinea pig is an exciting time, but there’s lots to think about beforehand, and it’s important to be as prepared as possible.

Guinea pigs are low maintenance and friendly and for those reasons, make popular pets. They are very sociable and can be easily trained.

Guinea pig supply checklist

You’ll need to make sure you’re prepared with all the supplies your new furry friend will need. Here are some things that your list could include:

• Guinea Pig Cages (big enough for piggies to roam freely)
• Water Bottle and water bowl
• Guinea pig food
• Food bowl
• Hay
• Bedding
• Nesting material
• Toys
• Carrier

It is important to get all the essential things for a guinea pig’s health and happiness. A happy, healthy Guinea pig is the result of interaction, exercise, food, and love.

Handling of guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are little sensitive animals, which means you need to learn how to handle them. Guinea pigs are social creatures that like to spend time with their furry counterparts. Once you tame a guinea pig, they can be as friendly and interactive as any other pet.

However, there are some tips that you should learn to handle your guinea pig:

• The guinea pig is a curious animal, so you must be careful when handling them. If they are moving around, don’t grab them. Always handle a guinea pig when he is still. This will not cause them any injury.
• Move your guinea pig to the corner, so they have no space to move, and then scoop them up.
• Hold the cage by one handle and slowly slide your hand underneath its tummy.
• Use the other hand to make a cup-shape to provide support to all four legs.
• When you pick them up, bring them close to your body, so that they feel safe.

Maintenance of cage

If you want to keep your guinea pig germ-free, it’s important to learn to clean it. Use gloves to clean the cage. Here are some steps you need to learn.

• Take your guinea pig out of the cage and place him in a carrier (or temporary safe space), then remove the bedding and toys from the cage.
• Dispose of the hay and clean the whole cage with soapy water.
• Clean the guinea pig water and food bowl with a little bit of soapy water.
• Place a newspaper before adding the new bedding on the cage floor.
• Clean the cage every week to keep the environment clean.

Feeding Routines

Make sure your Guinea pigs’ bottle always has some fresh drinking water in it, give them the option of a water bowl in addition.

You can feed your guinea pig pellets fortified with vitamins, but they will still require vegetables and fruit at mealtimes, and most importantly hay.

Feeding your guinea pig twice a day – in the morning and evening will keep them happy. It’s important to keep your guinea pig hydrated, so fill the water bowl and a drink bottle, the more often they drink from it or play around with their dish, the less likely they will be dehydrated.

Try to avoid too many treats for your piggy. Foods high in starch like peas, corn, beans and nuts are a choke hazard.

Exercise

Guinea pigs are busy little beings and love running around freely, which is essential for their overall well-being. Keep an eye on them if they are out of their enclosure, to ensure they don’t run into trouble.

If your Guinea pig is running around in a safe room (ensuring there are no house plants, food stuffs or cables within reach), don’t be tempted to ‘” leave them to it”. Keep a watchful eye on your Guinea pig in an open space, just in case they find a cable you’d forgotten about or encounter something you hadn’t considered.

If you want your guinea pig to get along with other animals or humans, it’s important to do introductions slowly. Your Guinea pig needs exercise for a good hour each day. Try getting him/her into a larger space like the living room from time to time so that this can happen and slowly introduce other household pets and humans.

Environment

When you bring home a new guinea pig, make sure that the environment in which they live is somewhere quiet with little to no activity. This gives them room for exploration and development without feeling overstimulated or stressed out from all of life’s hustle-bustling commotion. Direct sunlight is harmful to your guinea pigs as it can cause them to become sunburnt and uncomfortable. Additionally, be careful about the cold, damp conditions often found in basements because this may encourage respiratory issues such as pneumonia. Guinea pigs thrive best in a dry environment, so try to maintain that environment for proper growth.

Vets

At the beginning of your pet’s life, it is very important to register with a local vet. This way, you can keep track of their medical records and be sure that they are as healthy as possible. A vet’s services are also essential in the event of an emergency or for routine checkups. They can advise on what needs to be done, give vaccinations when required, and administer injections if needed.